Oldest dry cleaners opens in new building

Nanci G. Hutson

Published 9:28 pm, Thursday, October 11, 2012

Photo: Contributed Photo

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Angelo DaCunha is seen here prior to the opening of his newly expanded dry cleaning business, Brookfield Cleaners & Tailors. It's located behind the Brookfield Medical Center at 28 Old Route 7, on the corner of Laurel Hill Road, near the southern end of the Four Corners district. less

Angelo DaCunha is seen here prior to the opening of his newly expanded dry cleaning business, Brookfield Cleaners & Tailors. It's located behind the Brookfield Medical Center at 28 Old Route 7, on the corner ... more

Building a successful, recently expanded, dry cleaning business -- Brookfield Cleaners & Tailors, makes sense: It features formal fashion and tailoring of everything from men's trousers to wedding gowns.

DaCunha's path started with a part-time high school and college job at Formal Fashions in Danbury that eventually turned into a 16-year career. With all of his business experience, he was soon ready for something beyond that.

It was five years after moving his family to Brookfield that DaCunha learned the town's oldest dry cleaning business was for sale. He leaped at the chance to own it.

On Nov. 4, 1991, DaCunha took over the operation at 770 Federal Road in the Four Corners district, and quickly expanded it to include formal wear.

Over the last 21 years, DaCunha has seen the business grow so much that he decided to invest $1.5 million to erect a new building designed specifically to serve his clients -- many of whom he knows on a first-name basis.

The new store, staffed by a cadre of 12 employees, is behind the Brookfield Medical Center at 28 Old Route 7, on the corner of Laurel Hill Road. The additional space there now allows for private fitting rooms, complete with a bathroom; a large, windowed tailoring area; and an overhead conveyor belt system to maximize dry cleaning space.

While expanding his space by 1,000 square feet, the new building also houses his former neighbor, Paris Style hair salon.

First Selectman Bill Davidson said he is delighted DaCunha's business has prospered to the point where he needed more room. And he's even more pleased DaCunha opted to keep his shop on the southern end of the Four Corners district that is targeted to become a downtown center.

"To me, it's a show of confidence in Brookfield, and that the Four Corners can and will be developed into a vital village area," Davidson said.

"My roots are here," said DaCunha, 52, who with his wife, Fatima, the bookkeeper, have two children, Amanda and Austin. "I'm here for life.''